Screenwriter Eric Heisserer, who adapted the film from the novel of the same name by Josh Malerman, said: "There was a time when one of the producers was like, ‘No, you have to see something at some point’ and forced me to write essentially a nightmare sequence where Malorie experiences one in that house."

Sandra insisted she didn’t want to see what the crew had created as her character’s ‘monster’ until they filmed the scene to create an element of surprise.

She recalled: "It was a green man with a horrific baby face.

"It was snake-like, and I was like, ‘I don’t want to see it when it first happens. Just bring it into the room. We’ll shoot the scene.’ I turn and he’s like this [growling at me.] It’s making me laugh. It was just a long fat baby."

The film has been terrifying viewers over the festive period
(Image: NETFLIX)

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Director Susanne Bier admitted the scene didn’t work so it was cut from the movie.

She explained: "It so easily becomes funny. We actually shot that and spent a lot of energy on, but every time I saw it, I was like this is not going to be tense. It’s just going to be funny.

"At first, Sandy was like, ‘I don’t want to see it’ because she thought it was scary. Then it was like, ‘Don’t show it to me because [I’ll laugh].’ Every time I did it, I was like, ‘S**t, that’s a different film.’"

Bier realised making visual representations of people’s fears watered down the suspense.

She continued: "Whatever those beings are, they tap into your deepest fear. Everybody’s deepest fear is going to be different from the other person. I think to suddenly take upon a concrete shape in order to illustrate that becomes weak. Where the conceit is really strong, then trying to illustrate it is kind of almost meaningless. So it would have been the wrong decision."

Bird Box has received mixed reviews from critics, but has been a big talking point on social media as people tuned in over the festive period to watch it.